BOX SCORE LORETTO, Pa. (March 14, 2014) – The Saint Francis University women's lacrosse team held an early lead in the first half, but fell in its home opener to Duquesne, 19-6, on Friday evening.

The Red Flash (1-4) held a 4-3 advantage nine minutes into the game against the Dukes (4-1), but could not fight off a rally from the visitors.

Rachel Larson (Corning, N.Y./Corning East) scored three of the six goals to lead Saint Francis, while Danielle Conwell (Roxbury, N.J./Roxbury) added a goal and two assists.

Duquesne struck first in the game, but SFU responded a minute and a half later as Casey Burk (Moorestown, N.J./Delran) tallied one off a pass from Conwell.

The Dukes then fired off back-to-back goals to take a 3-1 advantage, but Saint Francis came back again, this time scoring three straight of its own. Rachel Larson (Corning, N.Y./Corning East) scored two consecutive goals, followed by one from Conwell and SFU took the 4-3 lead.

Duquesne then scored five goals to take an 8-4 lead, two of them coming from Haley Marafioti, who finished with a game-high five goals. 

Larson tallied another one, and Duquesne then scored twice quickly before the halftime break. The Dukes held a 10-5 lead as the teams headed to intermission.

In the second period, the Dukes rattled off seven goals to take a significant lead. Sabina Dorr (Baiting Hollow, N.Y./Riverhead) netted a goal late with seven minutes remaining off a pass from Katie Schaaf (Ellicott City, Md./Hebron). Duquense followed with two more goals in the final four minutes of play.

Danielle Conwell (Roxbury, N.J./Roxbury) finished with a team-high two draw controls, Savannah Shores (Trappe, Md./Easton) posted nine saves in net for SFU.

Saint Francis returns to action next weekend as it travels to Delaware State on Saturday, March 22 for a 1 p.m. contest.